Juicing for Hypothyroidism: Which Foods Should You Juice, and Which Should You Avoid?

By Claire Christina Rathausky

Hypothyroidism is a common disorder that many people suffer from, but juicing for hypothyroidism helps alleviate symptoms naturally without the need of prescription drugs.
Hypothyroidism refers to a condition in which the thyroid gland is producing fewer hormones than it should be. These hormones travel all throughout your body to regulate processes such as metabolism, growth, body temperature, heart rate, and muscle strength. It's important to keep your thyroid healthy, because otherwise your body will stop functioning properly.
In order to determine which foods are good for the thyroid and which foods are bad, it's important to understand why there are certain foods you should avoid - especially if you have already been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
Specific foods contain something known as goitrogens - which interfere with iodine uptake in the body. Since the thyroid gland relies on iodine to function properly, goitrogens suppress adequate functioning of the thyroid, which can lead to an enlarged gland (consequently known as a goiter) and inhibited hormone production.
Though it is unnecessary to completely cut out all foods that contain goitrogens, it's important to know what they are so you can avoid eating them in excess. Some common foods that contain goitrogens are:
Legumes: Soybeans, pine nuts, and peanuts.
Fruits: Strawberries, pears, and peaches.
Vegetables: Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, kale, cabbage, broccoli, turnips, and mustard greens.
An exceptionally high source of goitrogens is soy, so it's important to make sure you are limiting your soy intake to very little.
A key point to remember is that if you have not been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and don't suspect you have it, you can safely eat these foods without increasing your risk of developing a thyroid disorder. If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you can reduce the amount of goitrogens you are ingesting from these foods by cooking them. The high heat helps to reduce the amount of goitrogens in each serving.
Foods that are most beneficial to the well-being of the thyroid gland are those that are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin B, iron, and antioxidants.
There are many different varieties of juices for thyroid health. You can create vegetable juices, fruit juices, or a combination of both - as long as you avoid those foods that are high in goitrogens. Vegetable juicing for hypothyroidism is especially beneficial because it has less sugar and fewer calories than fruit juice.
A simple, healthy vegetable juice you can make consists of only 4 ingredients:
3 Carrots
2 Celery Stalks
� cup Parsley
2 cups Romaine or Dandelion Greens
While vegetable juice is beneficial due to its tendency to be low-calorie and low-carb, those who are new to juicing may find that the juice is too bitter for them to drink. In this case, fruit juicing for hypothyroidism is an alternative. A healthy, low-goitrogen fruit juice can be made from three simple ingredients:
3 Apples
� Lemon
1 inch of Ginger
Both vegetable juice and fruit juice can help negate symptoms of an under-active thyroid if you can avoid foods that are high in goitrogens. If you are able to pack both vegetables and fruits into one drink you can get the best of both worlds
. � cup Dandelion Greens
3 sprigs of Parsley
2 stalks of Celery
3 Carrots
� Cucumber
2 Apples
2 Kiwis
� Lemon
Packed with tons of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, this low-goitrogenic drink helps to cleanse the body while providing the thyroid with the nutrients it needs to return to a proper state.
Being aware of the foods high in goitrogens that you should avoid (as well as knowing what goitrogens are and how they affect the thyroid) is the first step to treating hypothyroidism naturally.
With dedication, you can shift your diet to include only those foods which will benefit your overall health. Though hypothyroidism tends to be a life-long disorder, you can avoid costly medications and frequent trips to the doctor's office by treating yourself naturally through juicing.
Following this regimen, you can alleviate and almost totally negate the symptoms of an under-active thyroid. Though juicing for hypothyroidism is not a complete alternative for medical assistance, this lifestyle will allow you to become a happier, healthier you - no pharmaceuticals involved.
If you would like to learn what The Health Benefits of Juicing are, visit here.
Claire Rathausky is passionate about natural health and she loves writing about the enormous benefits of supplementing your diet with delicious natural fresh juices and smoothies. She has many tips and ideas to share, ranging from many delicious juicing and smoothie recipes, the health benefits of juicing, how to detox, which are the best juicer machines, best blenders and lists recommended juicing and smoothie books to tickle your inspiration...
Claire lives on a small farm with her husband and 2 boys, dogs, guinea pigs, cattle and alpacas and grows a lot of their own food and is passionate about looking after our natural environment.
Claire's website can be found at http://www.bestofjuicing.com
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